Study Guide - Chapter 11 and 14

Some Vocabulary you should know!

Genetics: The scientific study of heredityFertilization: the process in sexual reproduction in which male and female reproductive cells join to form a new cellTrait: a specific characteristic of an individual Gene: A factor that is passed from parent to offspringAllele: One of a number of different forms of a geneThe Principle of Dominance: states that some alleles are dominant and others are recessiveProbability: the likelihood that an event will occurHomozygous: having two identical alleles for a particular geneHeterozygous: having two different alleles for a particular genePhenotype: the physical characteristics of an organismGenotype: the genetic makeup of an organismCodominance: a situation in which the phenotypes produced by both alleles are completely expressedExample: Speckled black and white chickens Incomplete dominance: a situation in which one allele is not completely dominant over another Example: Red flower crossed with white flower produces a pink flowerKarotype: a photograph of the complete set of chromosomes grouped in pairs Sex-linked gene: a gene located on a sex chromosomePedigree: A chart that shows the presence or absence of a trait according to the relationships within a family across several generations. Nondisjunction: An error in meiosis in which the chromosomes fail to separate properly.